10 Reasons To Avoid Instant Noodles

By: Tara Hari

Published: Friday, June 7, 2013, 7:31 [IST]

Subscribe to Boldsky

Noodles might seem like the ultimate food, especially to school children and college goers. Extremely easy to make and yummy to scarf down, noodles easily replace proper, healthy meals nowadays. If a child does not feel like having the food cooked at home, he or she will immediately start demanding instant noodles. College students love it for its cheapness and simplicity to cook. When you are living by yourself and lack the energy to cook a proper meal after work, the easiest thing to do is to make instant noodles.

But is it really healthy to replace meals with noodles? Despite what the advertisements claim, noodles can be quite unhealthy, especially for a growing child. Noodles can never replace nutrient-dense food. Let us look at the reasons to avoid noodles. Even after being strict, if your child is insistent on having noodles, then prepare it sometimes. Make sure you add lots of vegetables to it. Leave out the artificial flavouring and use natural spices to bring the health quotient up a notch.

Nutrient Absorption

Noodles inhibit the ability of a child under 5 years to properly absorb nutrients. After the consumption of instant noodles, many children under the age of 5 have difficulty absorbing nutrients from proper meals.

Cancer

The packing in which instant noodles come in contains Styrofoam. Styrofoam is a known cancer causing agent.

Miscarriage

A number of pregnant women who eat instant noodles during their pregnancy suffered miscarriage. This is because instant noodles adversely affect the development of a foetus.

Metabolism

Long term consumption of instant noodles can adversely affect the body's metabolism. This is due to the accumulation of the poisonous chemical substances like food colouring, preservatives and additives inside the noodles.

Propylene glycol

Instant noodles contain propylene glycol, an anti-freeze ingredient which prevents the noodles from drying by retaining moisture. The body absorbs it easily and it accumulates in the heart, liver and kidneys. It causes damage and abnormalities to these areas, and also weakens the immune system.

Digestion

Instant noodles are notorious for interfering with the digestive system. Continued consumption of instant noodles result in bloating, constipation or irregular bowl movements.

Obesity

Noodles are a leading cause of obesity. Avoid noodles as it contains fat and large amounts of sodium which causes water retention in the body. Incorporating noodles in your regular diet is a sure way to become overweight.

MSG

Monosodium glutamate is used to enhance the flavour of the noodles. Around 1-2% of the population are allergic to MSG. When people who are allergic to MSG consume it as part of their diet, they end up suffering from burning sensations, chest and facial flushing, or pain and headaches.

Sodium

Junk Food

Instant noodles can only be considered as a junk food and should never replace a mean. This is so because it contains a large amount of carbohydrates, but no vitamins, minerals or fibre. It also has high levels of saturated fat and trans fat. It is calorie dense and negatively affects your health.